Reflexão
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Chuck Allison
Aug 6, 2025, 12:25:44 PM8/6/25
to Brazil North Mission (Oakes)
Saudacões, Irmãos!
Living away from Utah for the past three years has caused me to appreciate the close proximity to temples and to many of you that have gathered at reunions over the years. Here on the Illinois prairie we are two hours from the nearest temple, and health concerns have limited our temple attendance. (I occasionally see Elder Svedin, who lives in Indiana and is a sealer in the Indianapolis Temple, which is our temple. I also saw Elder Wing who traveled from Washington to seal one of his grandchildren to a spouse there.)
One advantage of living here is that we work closely with the full-time missionaries. We have a pair of sisters and a pair of brothers just for our ward. They are from the Congo, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah. They come to our homes regularly and we go out with them to appointments. I have had the opportunity to confirm new members and ordain new converts to the priesthood. This didn't happen too much where I lived in Springville, Utah, where one pair of missionaries covered multiple stakes.
But watching Elder Cook's video in Come Follow Me this week reminded me of my mission and how grateful I am that I was part of the Lord's work in Brazil. He spoke of riding his bike in England as a young missionary when the Spirit whispered, "Tract here." We all have had and continue to have such experiences, but one that stands out for me occurred in Santa Teresa, which was part of the Tijuca district in Rio in late 1971. I actually had forgotten many of the details but was reminded of them in a BYU Summer devotional given by BYU Librarian Mark Grover, who was later acquainted with the families my companion and I had taught. (See https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/mark-l-grover/one-convert-time/)
Long story short: Valentina Alexandre didn't want to let us in when we knocked on her door. She was geting ready to mop the floor and turned us away. For some reason, after going to the next door, something told me to go back. She let us in, and the rest, as they say is history. Valentina and José were Portuguse, and had three children, Sérgio, Sandra, and Selma. About the same time Elder Paul Hindmarsh and I found another Portuguese family nearby, Aires and Maria Conceicão, who had two children, Luis Carlos and Christiane. All were baptized near the end of 1971, when Elder Sam Woffinden was my companion (he later was called to be a branch president while a missionary!).
Valentina served throughout her life in all female presidencies at the ward and stake level. José, who could barely read when we met him, became High Priest Group Leader when they moved to Ilha do Governador. They have both since passed away. Aires was bishop in Andaraí and counselor in the Tijuca stake presidency. Selma moved to the states in the 1970s and works at the BYU Library. I just got this text from her from a recent visit (July 6, 2025) to Brazil:
"Oi Chuck, I went to the Temple in Rio on Friday and saw the Martins family there (Aires, Conceição, Luis Carlos and Christiane). Christiane is married to a non member but he is a good man and very supportive of her. The parents are 92 years old. Roney & Sandra are officiators. They’re all active and were serving in the Temple."
They are an inspiration and example for me.
Com Saudades,
Elder Allison
Living away from Utah for the past three years has caused me to appreciate the close proximity to temples and to many of you that have gathered at reunions over the years. Here on the Illinois prairie we are two hours from the nearest temple, and health concerns have limited our temple attendance. (I occasionally see Elder Svedin, who lives in Indiana and is a sealer in the Indianapolis Temple, which is our temple. I also saw Elder Wing who traveled from Washington to seal one of his grandchildren to a spouse there.)
One advantage of living here is that we work closely with the full-time missionaries. We have a pair of sisters and a pair of brothers just for our ward. They are from the Congo, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah. They come to our homes regularly and we go out with them to appointments. I have had the opportunity to confirm new members and ordain new converts to the priesthood. This didn't happen too much where I lived in Springville, Utah, where one pair of missionaries covered multiple stakes.
But watching Elder Cook's video in Come Follow Me this week reminded me of my mission and how grateful I am that I was part of the Lord's work in Brazil. He spoke of riding his bike in England as a young missionary when the Spirit whispered, "Tract here." We all have had and continue to have such experiences, but one that stands out for me occurred in Santa Teresa, which was part of the Tijuca district in Rio in late 1971. I actually had forgotten many of the details but was reminded of them in a BYU Summer devotional given by BYU Librarian Mark Grover, who was later acquainted with the families my companion and I had taught. (See https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/mark-l-grover/one-convert-time/)
Long story short: Valentina Alexandre didn't want to let us in when we knocked on her door. She was geting ready to mop the floor and turned us away. For some reason, after going to the next door, something told me to go back. She let us in, and the rest, as they say is history. Valentina and José were Portuguse, and had three children, Sérgio, Sandra, and Selma. About the same time Elder Paul Hindmarsh and I found another Portuguese family nearby, Aires and Maria Conceicão, who had two children, Luis Carlos and Christiane. All were baptized near the end of 1971, when Elder Sam Woffinden was my companion (he later was called to be a branch president while a missionary!).
Valentina served throughout her life in all female presidencies at the ward and stake level. José, who could barely read when we met him, became High Priest Group Leader when they moved to Ilha do Governador. They have both since passed away. Aires was bishop in Andaraí and counselor in the Tijuca stake presidency. Selma moved to the states in the 1970s and works at the BYU Library. I just got this text from her from a recent visit (July 6, 2025) to Brazil:
"Oi Chuck, I went to the Temple in Rio on Friday and saw the Martins family there (Aires, Conceição, Luis Carlos and Christiane). Christiane is married to a non member but he is a good man and very supportive of her. The parents are 92 years old. Roney & Sandra are officiators. They’re all active and were serving in the Temple."
They are an inspiration and example for me.
Com Saudades,
Elder Allison
Pete Grimm
Aug 6, 2025, 4:43:33 PM8/6/25
to Chuck Allison, Brazil North Mission (Oakes)
Thanks for your message!
Pete
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Gary Lewis
Aug 15, 2025, 9:05:05 AM8/15/25
to Pete Grimm, Chuck Allison, Brazil North Mission (Oakes)
Yes, nice to stay connected, if even by memories and stories that are embedded in our hearts. Someday the reunions will be much larger on the other side (I'm sure with tears of joy also). We have no idea how many dozens? hundreds?, thousands? our efforts affected on our missions..
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